Queen’s first joke with Nelson Mandela revealed: ‘I may not look so good tomorrow!’
QUEEN ELIZABETH II cracked an hilarious self-deprecating joke the first time she met Nelson Mandela, unearthed footage reveals.
Queen jokes with Nelson Mandela about her appearance in 1992
The Queen and Nelson Mandela were closer than most people know. Their relationship was so tight that, even two years after stepping down from his presidency, Mr Mandela visited London, and was treated to a coach ride with the Queen. He arrived on July 9, 1998, for a four-day visit, and on the last day he concluded his trip to England by accompanying Her Majesty on a coach drive through the busy streets of London.
The South African leader had stayed at Buckingham Palace as an honoured guest of the monarch and addressed a joint meeting of Parliament at Westminster Hall.
During the trip, they often referred to each other as "friends”.
The two had only met for the first time in 1991 at a reception in Zimbabwe for Commonwealth leaders, but the chemistry was there from the very start.
The meeting was captured on film and shown in the 1992 BBC documentary "Elizabeth R".
In the clip, Mr Mandela complimented Her Majesty, saying: "Your Majesty you look well taking into account your tight schedule."
The Queen, known for her sense of humour, replied: "I still have to see 16 people, I might not look so well tomorrow."
They all erupted in laughter.
Former Labour minister Peter Hain, well known for a lifetime of anti-Apartheid campaigning, recalled another touching moment between the South African political leader and the monarch in an interview with Express.co.uk.
He said: "On his 90th birthday, he [Nelson] was phoned by Her Majesty the Queen.
"They were very close.
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"He was handed the phone and said 'Hello Elizabeth, how is the Duke?'
"Afterwards his wife reprimanded him.
"She said 'you cannot refer to Her Majesty like that!'
"He replied: 'But she calls me Nelson!'"
Mr Mandela died in 2013 at the age of 95 after suffering from a prolonged respiratory infection.
The Queen led the UK in sending her "sincere condolences" to his family and to the people of South Africa.
The monarch said the former South African president "worked tirelessly" for the good of his country, adding that his legacy is "the peaceful South Africa we see today".
A statement from Buckingham Palace said: "Her Majesty remembers with great warmth her meetings with Mr Mandela".